The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, it is an honour to join the government’s adjournment debate on the CBSL Annual Economic Review 2025, especially while you, who represent our district, are in the Chair.

¶ 02 Whatever mud the opposition throws, this report is not a political document—it records the true turning points of our economy and confirms the success of stable, transparent, forward-looking policies. I will highlight five points.

¶ 03 First, GDP growth: maintaining 5 per cent in 2025. We took over just 18 months ago; rebuilding a collapsed economy is not easy. Yet, for a second consecutive year we have delivered positive growth of about 5 per cent.

¶ 04 Second, despite severe weather late in the year and global geopolitical shifts, we managed the economy to a good, successful position due to political stability and sound macro management.

¶ 05 Third, inflation and price stability: though there was depreciation early in 2025, by August inflation was steered towards the 5 per cent target band. Energy and food prices were kept stable through 2025, though recent global war dynamics have affected energy prices, with some pass-through to other goods. Still, unlike many countries facing rationing and crises, we have progressed comparatively well.

¶ 06 Fourth, interest rates and private sector revival: with a looser monetary stance, rates fell markedly, credit to the private sector increased, and we relaxed vehicle import restrictions, giving new momentum to commerce and reactivating markets after a historic slump.

¶ 07 (Statement continues.)